Roll forming machine

Abstract

The roll forming machine consists in a succession of stands (1), each carrying at least two parallel forming rolls (12, 13) carried by shafts (48, 49) journaled on either side to a pair of uprights (16, 17) anchored permanently to a base (2) that can be clamped to and separated from the fixed bed (3) of the machine; the rolls (12, 13) of each stand are driven by way of respective p.t.o. shafts (32, 33) mounted to a further fixed upright (27) and carried in journal blocks (34, 35) of which at least one associates with the upright on a floating fit that will allow a margin of transverse movement in relation to the axis of rotation. Self-aligning couplings (38, 39) are used to connect the roll shafts (48, 49) with the p.t.o. shafts (32, 33).

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A roll forming machine, comprising: a plurality of stands (1) arranged in succession, each supporting at least two forming rolls (12, 13) disposed with axes parallel and mounted to shafts (48, 49) freely journaled at each end to blocks (14, 15) carried by massive uprights (16, 17) and caused to rotate about their respective axes in opposite directions, the axes extending horizontally with one shaft vertically spaced from the other;   at least one base (2), capable of being clamped to and removed from the bed (3) of the machine, to which the uprights (16, 17) of at least one stand (1) are permanently anchored;   at least one fixed upright (27), located a short distance to one side of the uprights of the stand, that carries two power take-off shafts (32, 33) aligned axially with the roll shafts (48, 49) and freely supported in rotation by relative journal blocks (34, 35) at least one of which is mounted to the upright (27) in such a way as to be allowed a marginal degree of shift transverse to the relative axis of rotation, said relative journal blocks being vertically spaced from one another in said fixed upright;   a geared motor unit (30), by which the power take-off shafts (32, 33) are driven;   two couplings (38, 39), by which the power take-off shafts (32, 33) and the roll shafts (48, 49) are caused to rotate as one, each of which consists in two connectable halves (42, 43), turning as one with the power take-off (32 or 33) and with the roll shaft (48 or 49), respectively, the embodiment of which is such that assembly of the coupling will automatically ensure mutual alignment of the axes of the interconnected shafts, wherein the base (2) to which the uprights (16, 17) of the stand (1) are anchored is clamped to and removed from the machine bed (3) by means of a device that comprises:   a horizontal table (4), on which the base (2) rests, and across which it is traversed, guided in a direction parallel to the axes of the power take-off shafts (32, 33);   a fixed stop (5), affording a locating surface (7) inclined to form an acute angle with the surface of the horizontal table (4) and designed to interact with a complementarily angled surface (6) offered by one side of the base (2), against which the base is clamped to the end of ensuring a faultless and predetermined axial position of the roll shafts (48, 49) in relation to the power take-off shafts (32, 33) when being connected thereto by way of the couplings (38, 39);   a movable stop (9), positioned at the side of the base opposite from the fixed stop (5) and affording a locating surface (11) that is inclined to form an acute angle with the surface of the horizontal table (4) and engages a complementarily angled surface (6) offered by the corresponding side of the base (2), said acute angles and the surface of the table forming openings which face one another and face in the direction of movement of the table has been inserted before.   
     
     
       2. A roll forming machine as in claim 1, wherein the movable stop (9) is of hinged embodiment, pivoted about a horizontal axis lying normal to a vertical plane containing the axes of the power take-off shafts (32, 33) and the roll shafts (48, 49). 
     
     
       3. A roll forming machine as in claim 1, wherein the base (2) is traversed across the horizontal table (4) in a direction parallel with the axes of the power take-off shafts (32, 33) and the roll shafts (48, 49) by a device comprising a ram (23), and a beam (24), reciprocated by the ram along its own axis and incorporating two vertical projections (25, 26) that extend above the level of the table (4) in such a way as to impinge on one or other side of the base (2), according to whether the stand (1) is being clamped or released. 
     
     
       4. A roll forming machine comprising: at least two roll shafts having parallel axes, the axes extending horizontally with one shaft vertically spaced from the other, a plurality of uprights, journal blocks carried by said uprights, said roll shafts being freely journaled at each end to said journal blocks and being caused to rotate in opposite directions about their respective axes, at least two forming rolls supported on each of said uprights and disposed on said shafts, at least one base carrying said uprights and capable of being clamped to and removed from a bed of the machine, at least one fixed upright being permanently anchored to said bed, intermediate mounts attached to said fixed upright, relative journal blocks associated, via resilient means, with said intermediate mounts, to power take-off shafts mounted on said fixed upright via said intermediate mounts, said power take-off shafts aligned axially with said roll shafts one power take-off shaft vertically spaced from the other and being freely supported in rotation by said relative journal blocks, at least one of said power take-off shafts being mounted to and resiliently associated with said fixed upright so as to allow said power take-off shaft a marginal degree of shift transverse to the relative axis of rotation, a geared motor unit driving said power take-off shafts, a socket coupling and a spigot coupling, said couplings being connectable to and axially slidable with respect to each other, said couplings, upon connection with each other, turning as one with the power take-off shaft and with the roll shaft, respectively, said socket coupling having a polygonal cross-section and a coaxially flared mouth, said spigot coupling having a polygonal cross-section matching that of said socket and being rigidly attached at one end to said roll shaft, said spigot coupling slidable axially into and fitting closely with said socket coupling in a manner which ensures axial alignment of said power take-off shaft and said roll shaft, a projecting end of said spigot coupling having a frusto-conical alignment taper designed to locate in and interact with the flared mouth of said socket coupling, wherein said journal block is resiliently mounted so as to normally maintain an intermediate position between an upper position and a lower position, transverse to the axis of shaft rotation, the difference in distance between the upper and lower positions representing the total available journal block movement range.